Health care workers at Allina-owned St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee voted overwhelmingly to stage informational pickets outside their place of work.

A 10-day notice of intent to picket was filed Thursday clearing the way for workers to picket as early as Aug. 22. More than 250 health care workers, including nursing assistants, dietary workers, and housekeeping staff have been working towards their first contract. The workers are represented by Service Employees International Union Local 113.

In their latest proposals, Allina management has proposed increases to the employees' share of health insurance costs, making health insurance unaffordable for health care workers.

"An increase in health care costs would put a financial burden on my family. It would make me think twice about going to the doctor. It makes me sad to know that I work in a hospital and would think twice about going to one," said Emily Hovorka, a Health Unit Coordinator at St. Francis.

Allina management has also declined to respect the hard work of its employees by refusing to pay the same rates as other metro hospitals.

"Business is good at St. Francis...so good that it is the most profitable hospital in the Allina system. How? By charging metro rates to patients and paying non-metro rates to employees," said Paul Doty, a Surgery Scheduler at St. Francis.

Informational pickets will allow workers to present their case to the public and to visitors at St. Francis. Workers are currently engaged in a public education campaign to let the public know what?s going on at their community hospital.

SEIU Local 113 is the largest health care union in Minnesota with over 14,000 members. In the metro area, members work at HealthPartners Clinics, Allina Hospitals, HealthEast facilities, North Memorial Hospital, Fairview facilities, the Aspen Medical Group, and numerous nursing homes.